http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/09/100924-whale-sharks-gulf-oil-spill-science-environment/
According to the National Geographic article "Whale Sharks Killed, Displaced by Gulf Oil?", it is being suggested that whale sharks have died and sunk to the bottom of the ocean due to the oil spill. A feeding habitat where the whale sharks swarm was contaminated by the spill. Although there have been no bodies found, it is being suggested by 'new research' that these mamals have been killed. Because of the unsightly scene of oil covering the surface of the water, biologist Eric Hoffmayer from the University of Southern Mississippi's Gulf Coast Research Laboratory notes that the whale sharks could have suffocated due to their gills filling with oil or their prey being tainted. Although much of the oil has disappeared, the spill isnt 'going away' say scientists. Because the shark whales swim with their mouths open so that they may feed off tiny plankton, they are believed to be at greater risk of absorbing dispersants being used during the clean up effort and other contaminants. Scientists are concerned that the oil has submerged to the bottom and that more animals are in danger. Theyre hoping that fish and sharks theyre tracking will provide them with information about new habits being formed and new territory being covered because of the oil spill.
Animals act on instinct, so it is most plausible that they have drifted on to newer territories and feeding grounds. im sure there have been deaths among these sharks, but they will be fine. they are smart creatures and will adopt a new way of living. As it has been discovered, certain fish being tracked have adopted new habits and they are migrating elsewhere to avoid the oil. Hopefully this spill is dealt with soon.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Massive Fish Kill in Gulf Caused by "Dead Zone," Oil?
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2010/09/100916-fish-kill-louisiana-gulf-oil-spill-dead-zone-science-environment/
Apparently, a large group of fish was found floating dead in a Louisiana marsh. They were discovered Friday in Bayou Chaland area of Plaquemines Parish. Experts are saying that it was due to an annual low oxygen "dead zone", but that the oil spill in the Gulf attributed to there death as well says Prosanta Chakrabarty, a fish biologist from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Brown stuff was discovered floating around the fish, and is believed to be oil, according to experts. He also states that agricultural runoff accounts for the nutrients that aided the expansion of "oxygen-hungry algae". The added oxygen snuffing bacteria from the Gulf spill made the "dead zone" worse. The fish had no chance and died due to suffocation, or so the experts say. Becoming isolated at times, the body of water where the fish were trapped had a low tide, therefore the fish were stuck, says Olivia Watkins from Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Further testing must be done in order to prove these hypothesis.
Basically these experts are blaming the agricultural runoff and the oil spill for the death of these fish. they blame pollution for everything, and now their saying that all of these combined killed these fish. NOT saying i dont care these fish died, or to find out exactly how, but really...these fish would have died anyway. They would have been eaten by us or other fish. Thats just the way the cycle of life goes...Now if the oil spill and the agricultural spill was the problem then it must be fixed. However, the marsh had a low tide...Olivia Watkins said so herself. So the fish, which there were many, could have died naturally from that. But the oil and added nutrients from the agricultural runoff just added to the decrease in oxygen. So either way there was a problem...and hopefully these experts find out what exactly it was so that perhaps it can be fixed.
Apparently, a large group of fish was found floating dead in a Louisiana marsh. They were discovered Friday in Bayou Chaland area of Plaquemines Parish. Experts are saying that it was due to an annual low oxygen "dead zone", but that the oil spill in the Gulf attributed to there death as well says Prosanta Chakrabarty, a fish biologist from Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. Brown stuff was discovered floating around the fish, and is believed to be oil, according to experts. He also states that agricultural runoff accounts for the nutrients that aided the expansion of "oxygen-hungry algae". The added oxygen snuffing bacteria from the Gulf spill made the "dead zone" worse. The fish had no chance and died due to suffocation, or so the experts say. Becoming isolated at times, the body of water where the fish were trapped had a low tide, therefore the fish were stuck, says Olivia Watkins from Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. Further testing must be done in order to prove these hypothesis.
Basically these experts are blaming the agricultural runoff and the oil spill for the death of these fish. they blame pollution for everything, and now their saying that all of these combined killed these fish. NOT saying i dont care these fish died, or to find out exactly how, but really...these fish would have died anyway. They would have been eaten by us or other fish. Thats just the way the cycle of life goes...Now if the oil spill and the agricultural spill was the problem then it must be fixed. However, the marsh had a low tide...Olivia Watkins said so herself. So the fish, which there were many, could have died naturally from that. But the oil and added nutrients from the agricultural runoff just added to the decrease in oxygen. So either way there was a problem...and hopefully these experts find out what exactly it was so that perhaps it can be fixed.
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